One-step microwave synthesis of in situ grown NiSe microdendrite arrays on Ni foam for high-performance supercapacitors

Abstract

The strategic design of in situ grown nanomaterials with microdendrite morphology to enhance supercapacitor performance has become a significant research focus in the field of renewable energy storage. This study explores an innovative one-step microwave technique for producing different NiSe microdendrite arrays that are grown in situ on Ni foam (NF) substrates. In this process, Ni foam serves dual roles as a Ni source and a structural framework. At a current density of 0.6 A g−1, NiSe microdendrite arrays that were synthesized demonstrate a capacity of 261.1 mAh·g−1, surpassing that of the majority of traditional pseudocapacitive materials. Furthermore, the effect of the solvent, Se powder dosage, and microwave reaction parameters on the micromorphology and electrochemical properties of NiSe is comprehensively examined. Furthermore, the supercapacitor device featuring a positive electrode composed of NiSe microdendrite arrays and a negative electrode constructed from activated carbon (AC) exhibits a broad voltage range of 1.7 V. It also achieves a peak energy density of 50.29 Wh·Kg−1 at power density of 847.98 W kg−1, suggesting a promising application prospect.